European Cup First League Group A match Day One
Saturday 17 June 2006
Prague, Czech Republic - The Rosicky stadium, site of the 1978 European Championships, was again host to top level athletics, where the Belgian men’s squad and women’s team from Belarus are the leaders after the first day of the European Cup First League Group A match.
In nice summer weather local spectators were satisfied with seven wins by Czech athletes, with both host teams in second place after the first day. The suprise leaders after Day one on the men’s side are Belgium, and as expected, the women’s team from Belarus. The Belgian men tallied 62 points, four ahead of the Czechs, with Sweden third with 52 points. The women’s battle for promotion is even closer, with Belarus (67 points) carrying a slight advantage into Day 2 ahead of the Czechs and Italians, who are tied with 62. But with the margins so narrow, Sunday’s conclusion could provide a much different outcome. That holds especially true in the men’s contest for Sweden, who, with Christian Olsson, Robert Kronberg and Alhaji Jeng competing, their stronger events are on tap on the final day,
Swedish high jumper Linus Thornblad well replaced olympic champion Stefan Holm, winning with a 2.27 leap before going out at 2.31. Moreover he beat the local favourite and co-world leader Svatoslav Ton. Another high level result was produced by Belorussian shot putter Pavel Lyzhyn who reached 20.48. Karel Blaha of Czech Republic bettered his season best to 46.04 to win the 400.
The same happened in the hurdles race at this distance as Michal Uhlik from Prague was the only runner to produce a sub-50 seconds clocking. “I had hoped for a personal best, but it was too hot,” Blaha said.
In the close 1500 metre contest and typical tactical race Michal Sneberger scored a great win but the time was over four minutes. Belgium winners came in sprints --Erik Wijmeersch at 100m 10.36, the 4x100 relay team in 39.44 and Michael Velter in long jump with a 7.95 leap. But the team will have it tough to have the same position after the second day. Other wins were noted by Austrian steeple specialist Gunther Weidlinger in the 5000 and Dmitry Shako who succesfully represented the strong Belarussian Hammer Throw elite.
Women in general achieved better winning results. Belgian record holder Kim Gevaert won the 100 in 11.17, though it was assisted by a +2.2 m/s wind. Czech women collected four wins and all with quality results. Last year’s European junior champion Zuzana Hejnova was the best at 400m Hurdles, producing a new national record of 55.83. Discus thrower Vera Cechlova-Pospisilova and pole vaulter Pavla Hamackova, both Helsinki bronze medallists, secured wins the 63.48 and 4.45 respectively. Javelin thrower Barbora Spotakova confirmed excellent shape with her 64.48 throw, the third best throw in the world this year.
Italy celebrated a pair of wins: at 3000 by Silvia Weissteiner (8:57.80) and in the Triple Jump by Magdelin Martinez (14.25). A Finish record was achieved by Johanna Lehtinen, who won the Steeplechase in 9:45.64. Belarus had only one win on the first day, but its overall depth was evident. Yuliana Zhalniruk took top honours in the 400 with her 51.53 win, pulling Ireland’s Joanne Cudihy to a new career best of 51.63.
European Cup First League Group A match Day Two
Sunday 18 June 2006
Prague, Czech Republic - Jumping in just his second competition since after being sidelined by injury in September 2004, Sweden’s Olympic Triple Jump champion Christian Olsson reached 17.40 to confirm that he is back and ready for battle at August’s European Championships. In the team battle, Belgium’s men and the women from Belarus maintained their overnight leads to earn promotion to Europe’s top division next summer.
The Swedish men’s squad tried hard on the second day at Rosicky Stadium, collecting wins by Johan Wissman in the 200 (20.55), Robert Kronberg in the 110m Hurdles (13.59), Alhaji Jeng in the Pole Vault (5.70) and Mattias Claesson in the 800. But it was still not enough for promotion as Belgium was better by five points, despite just one win, and that came in the final event, the 4x400 relay. It was a historical achievement for Belgium, who will compete in the highest category next year for the first ever.
The Belarussian women had a more comfortable margin, winning by 10.5 points, while scoring five wins on the second day --the 1500, 5000, the 4x400 relay, the Long Jump, and the Hammer Throw. Oksana Menkova’s 73.62 effort in the Hammer was the best women’s result on the day. Belarus are returning to the top division for the first time since 2001.
Notable also were a pair of sub-23 second performances in the 200m by Kim Gevaert (22.91) and Yelena Nevmerzhitskaya (22.99), while the 3:26.19 by Belarus in the 4x400 is the third fastest of the year.
Italy scored a pair of wins, taking top honours in the Shot Put (Chiara Rosa, 17.96) and 100m Hurdles (Margaret Macchiut, 13.20) to finish second in the team battle with 116 points. Belgian Tia Hellebaut won the High Jump with a 1.96 leap before going out at a would-be national record of 1.99. Barbora Lalakova of Czech Republic improved her outdoor best to 1.94, still shy of her 1.99 indoor best.
But the Czech women did not achieve any other wins to follow up on their four from Saturday. For the host men, Jiri Vojtik just missed Frantisek Brecka’s national record (20.61 in 1984) with his 20.62 clocking. Elsewhere, Estonia’s Gerd Kanter confirmed his form in the Discus Throw with his strong 67.49 win, equalling his season’s best and the seventh farthest throw of the year. Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen from Norway also fulfilled his role with his 82.24 win in the Javelin Throw.
Second after the first day, both the Czech squads dropped to third overall, the men with 104 points, the women with 102. Relegated were the Norwegian and Austrian men’s teams and the Swiss and Latvian women.